If growing up in a seaside town has taught me anything, it’s that a day at the beach has the potential for putting some serious dents in your wallet. That needn’t be the case though, as there’s plenty of fun to be had without having to take out a second mortgage.
In fact, a beachside day out can even be a relatively inexpensive excursion if you’re careful with a few small things before you go.
Location, location, location
This is the number one factor in how much money you’re going to have to shell out. I’m not necessarily talking about which seaside resort you’re planning on visiting (though some are definitely pricier than others), but rather the area of the beach that you choose there.
Let me explain. In my town, the beach stretches for a few miles. At one end, there’s a bowling alley, arcade, fish and chip restaurant, candyfloss, ice cream, hot dogs, ferris wheel and donkey rides.
At the other end there’s not.
You can’t take your kids to a beach that’s opposite all those attractions and expect them not to want EVERYTHING at once. It’s almost overwhelming for them. Instead, a spot at the quieter end of the beach will allow them to enjoy the beach activities without worrying that they might be missing out on something else. Don’t be a complete stingebag though, and try to find a spot relatively close to an ice cream van at least. They’re everywhere, you’ll have no trouble finding one.
Take a picnic blanket
Not necessarily for a picnic (although packing one will certainly cut costs even further), but rather to give you somewhere to eat. If you’re going to the seaside, the eating of greasy fried goods is almost mandatory. Be it fish and chips, or a beachside burger, there’s no real reason that you have to eat inside a restaurant.
You’ll almost always pay extra for the privilege of eating the exact same food inside than you would outside. Hey, it makes sense, they have to wash the plates and bring it to your table after all. Do you really need all that though?
If you bring a blanket with you, just pop over to the chippy to bring everything back. Ask for your meals ‘wrapped’ and you’ll be able to carry them all in a bag back to your picnic spot. Don’t forget to look for a bin to put all your rubbish in afterwards though!
Buy any beach toys beforehand
To be honest, prices for things like beach balls or buckets and spades are rarely going to astronomical wherever you go. Even buying on Amazon beforehand won’t save you a great deal of money on each item.
Where you save though, is in not having to enter gift shops with your kids in tow.
You just know that you won’t be able to go in and just buy a beach ball. The kids will want giant plastic dinosaurs, wind-up chattering teeth, and one of those giant dummy lollies to boot. We all know that these places are full of tat that your child won’t look at again as soon as you get home, so do yourself a favour and buy the essentials before you go!
For another cheap day out – check out how to make a trip to the park last all day, or even make a woodland adventure checklist!